Air conditioning apparatus



March 8, 1932. Q E, SCOTT 1,848,202

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllllfl.. .www w z .lf r a MWMIMMMWIIHIHIMWVI.. L/ ITAM f March 8, 1932. c.E. sco'rT AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Mar. 8, 1932 I 'UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE 'CLIFFDRD E.SCOTT, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR T0 UTN'IJYIEID STATES BLOWER ANDHEATER l\COIRHDBATION, OE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ACOBPORATIONOFDELAWARE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Application ledrSepte'mber 24, 1930.Serial No. 484,013.

This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus of the type where aforced circulaing the use of manifolds, distribution pipes and a batteryof spray nozzles such as are commonly employed in air Washers andcooling systems extensively utilized at this time.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described which maybemanufactured at relatively low cost, making the device available foruse in homes, oiiices and shops and wherein the air is conditioned withmoisture by rotary moisture distributing' members partially immersed ina tank and which pick up, subdivide and centrifugally distributeparticles ofmoisture, lling the cross sectional area of theairconditioning chamber.

Another pbject is to provide in a device of the class described, twooppositely disposed series of moisture distributing elements so reilated and positioned as .to cause larticles of water to be'projected andcentri ugally distributed from opposite sides ofthe chamber, the twoopposing currents ofmoisture strikf ing, disintegrating and causing theresultant production of a finely divided mist illingfsub.

stantially the -cross sectionalgareaof` the Y chamber.

Aothembe'ct is t0 Provide an improvesand highly eiiicient .moisturedistributing'ele-- ment especially..adaptedgierlzse in airgn= ditioningapparatusand'-adapted to 'ontinui `ously pick up and subdivide Water orliquid and to centrifugallyl precipitate small par.-` ticles of moistureoutwardly andupwardly.

Still a further object is to provide airconditioning-apparatus whereinal series of cooperating rotary moisture dstributing elements disposedWithin an air conditiouiplg chamber and.l partially limmersed in a tacontaining liquid are so associated with a blower or fan as to produce avery thorough admixture of iinely divided particles of mois turethroughout the cross sectional area of the air conditioning chamber.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the* following description made in connection `with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer.V tosimilar parts throughout thesev'eral views, and in which:-

Fig. l is a plan View of auembodiment of the invention, many of theparts within theV casing being shown in' dotted'lines, some portions ofthe casing being broken away to show vthe rotary moisture distributingelements;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; j Fig. 3'is a diagrammatical view showing the air conditioning chamber of theapparatus in cross sectioii toillustrate the cooperation and function ofthe moisture distributing elements; v, l

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section through one of the rotary shaftsshowing a preferred embodiment of moisture distributing element mountedthereon;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line of Fig. 4; Y

' Fig. 6- isa plan view showing a sheet of netting anda manner in whichit may be cut to enableit to be readily'attached to thedisk of preferredmoisture distributing'.element'; 1 Y

Fig.7 is a'planzviw of a modified form of moisture distributing element,and Fig, 8 is a fragmentary eros section taken on the'line 8-8 of Fig.7. 1Inthe,embodiment of the invention illustrated lin Figsglto-inclusive, the several elementsof my apparatus are housed within anelongated rectangular casing C which has an enlarged air intake passage8 irione .end

thereof and a discharge passage 9 in 'one of. 95, the side walls andadjacentthe opposite'end-l of kthe casin The interior of the casingadjacent the air intake 8 constitutesanair conditioning chamber X, thischamber, as shown Compl-.irsmg approximately one-thrdlrofthe 100 volumeof the casing. 4`Lhe bottom of the casing in chamber X may be shaped toprovide a liquid tank 10, or ii desired an independent tank may bemounted in the bottom of air conditioning chamber X.l The level of thewater or other liquid within tank. 10 may be maintained at substantiallya predeter-mined height by suitable means, such as a float valve 11 andas shown, an overlow pipe 12 is provided in tlie bottom of the tank.

Above the level o'f the liquid within tank 10 and extendinlongitudinally of the casing and the air inta e passage l providepreferably at least a pair of rotary shafts i8 each journaled insuitable bearings 14 and 15 respectively, provided at the ends of thetank 10. It will be noted that the bearings for the shafts as well asthe shafts are disposed above the level of water or' liquid in the tank.The shafts 13 are preferably disposed horizontally and extend paralleland are suitably connected together at their outer ends for driving inunison and in opposite directions. As shown, shafts 13 are each providedwith belt pulleys 13a over which a V-type endless belt V is trained,said belt being crossed to reverse the drivingof'the two shafts. One ofthe shafts 13 has fixed to the outer extremity thereof a second beltpulley 13b which is suitably connected for driving, such: as byanendless belt 16 with an electric motor M. Motor M may be convenientlylmount-'ed on the horizontal shoulder of an olf-set portion at the airiBntake end of the casing, as clearly shown in series 'of highlyefiicient moisture distributing elements D are lixed to each of therotary shafts 13 and in the preferred form of the invention, as clearlyshown in Figs. 4 and 5, each moisture distributing element comprises arelatively thin' disk 17 which may be constructed of some non-corrosivemetal, such as alpminum, having an axial hub 18 which, if desired, maybe integrally constructed therewith. Fine mesh netting, suchlas metalscreen is secured to the two faces of each disk' 17 arrangedcircumferentially and extending from the ripheral edge for somedistancefinwar'dly. prefer to wrap thanetting or screen about the edgeof the disk, doubling thesame in the manner illustrated vin Figs. 4andi: Preferably,`the.netting "or tscreen at eachsile or face of thedisk is slit `r form'edof separate sections', the edges nuinlappedv 4, v.A1 convenient ymanner ofconstructing and th'eredf beinglsue'cesfsivel'y@over` attaching the netting to the disks is partiallyillustrated in'Fig. 6.= An elongated rectangular'sheet 19 of screen isprovided of somewhat i greater than twice the width of the desiredradius of the netting surface and this sheet is slit along each of itslongitudinal edges on a series of parallel lines Z which extendperpendicular to said longitudinal edges and terminato short of thelongitudinal center line of the sheet. The sheet so slit may then be twrapped around the periphery of disk 17 and the slit portions or tonguesbent inwardly against the surfaces of the disk, successive tongues beingoverlapped to leave the edges 19a. These edges assist in picking up andforcibly distributing liquid, and may, if desired, extend radially withrespect to the disk,-

the inner and free edges of the turned nanges l or tongues 19. The rings20 may be clamped together by clamping bolts 21 which may pass l throughthe screen desired. i

Directly behind the air conditioning chamber X of my apparatusa suitablemoisture eliminator is mounted extending substantiaL ly the full heightof casing C. ,This eliminator may comprise the conventional `zigzagplates 22 extending vertically within casing C i and while eliminatorplates having six bends are illustrated; with my device, because of thevery thorough treatment of the air with moisture, it has been found thata four bend eliminator plate is all that is required and that theapparatus will have practically as highacapacity with such a plate andwith as well as the disk 17 if the blower slowed down somewhat from theusual speed.

Within the end of the casing C opposite from the air conditioningchamber X a relatively large blower is mounted having a blower casing 23which is disposed transversely of casing() and yhas its intake 23adisposed rearwardly of the delivery end of the moisture eliminator andwhich has its discharge communicating with the discharge passage 9through. a tubular flexible skirt 23h which may be constructed of canvasor other flexible material.

The iinpeller 24 of the blower is fixed toy a substantially horizontalshaft 25 mounted in suitable bearin swithin casing C andextendinglongitu inally of said casing. Amol tor 26 1s provided withinthe-casing for drivingthe impeller. n 25 is provided with a largevpulley 25a having yfa' variable speed connectionwithshaft 25.

This variable speed connection may be, if' desired, at-hydraulic clutchmechanism designated as. an entirety by the numeral 28 for .varying theslippage of lpulley 25a"relatively to the shaft 25 thereby varying thespeed of the impeller. Pulley 25a, as shown, is connected for drivingwith the vpulley of the motor by means of a pair of V belts 27. i

- A rectangular casing or hood 30 iscormect-y As shown, impeller shafted with the discharge passage 9 of casing C and as illustrated, aradiator or refrigeration coil R is mounted therein and outwardly ofsaid radiator two series of crossed defiectors 23 are pivotally mountedby means of which discharged air may be distributed as desired.

Operation In operation the moisture distributing elements and the blowerwillbe driven by themotors M and 26 respectively When look-y ing at themoisture distributing elements from v the intake end of the casing, theright hand elements will be revolved in clock-wise direction and theleft hand series of elements incounter clock-wise direction.,Theelements, it will be noticed, are immersed in the water or otherliquid in tank l0 for some distance, but usually, however, 'for a depthless than the width of the netting 19. Each moisture distributingelement in its rotation picks up small particles of liquid between themeshes of the netting or screen, the meshes of said screen sub'dividingthe liquid as it is picked up and capillary attraction and surfacetension tending to retain the liquid within the meshes and between theouter surface of tlie screen and the adjacent face of the disk untilcentrifugal force is adequate to throw off or' precipitate the moisturefrom the disk.

Fig. 3 illustrates the 'manner in which the moisture is distributedwithin the air treating chamber. f It will be seen vthat particles ofYmoistureare thrown.. off from the two cooperating series of disks in thedirection of the 4center of the ai'r conditioning chamber and alsoupwardly.

The currents formed .by the precipitated particles from the opposingseries of disks strike with violence, causing the particles to befurther broken up and subdivided and resulting in the formation of adense cloud of finely divided mist above the level of tank 10. -By farthe greater portion lof the liquid picked up by the rotary distributingelements is. thrown o' before it has moved through a quarter of arevolution, as-

4 clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. However, veryA 'small amounts ofmoisture remain in the netting or .interstices and cells of the same andmintue particles arefth'rown oil' at'the top and outer edges'of theelements D and in the direction of the side Walls ofthe casing C,setting up a finely-divided mist adjacent said walls, as indicated inFig; 3. This auxiliary moisture distribution cooperating with thesubstantial distribution" and precipitation of moisture at thecenter ofthev casing permeates and substantially fills the entire cross sectionalarea ofthe air treating chamber above tank 10.

The influence and cooperation of the hlo`w er is important in that asthe inist forms, because of its communication with the airv treatingchamber throughjthe eliminating unit at a height above' the tankv 10,the inist of moisture striking each other and subdi viding theparticles,but obtaining the additional or increased effect of morethoroughly llingfthe air conditioning chamber with a ine spray andatomized liquid.

lathe rotation of the several moisture distributing elements the lappingedges 19a of the screen or netting which extend substantially radiallywith respect to the disks 17 of the several elements pick up and removeportions of liquid, most of the said removed liquid during the rapidrotation oit the ldisks lodging in the interstiees or minute chambers ofthe netting and being rapidly precipitated by centrifugal force.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a modified and somewhat diii'erent form of moisturedistributing element is illustrated comprising an integral disk 30constructed of thin material, such as sheet metal provided with amultiplicity of small, closely spaced, apertures 30a therethroughwhichtake the place of the small chambers or cells in the mesh of thenetting in the preferred form of the moisture distributing elements. Thedisk 30 is also provided on each of its faces with a series of ribs 30?)which are directed almost radially, l

extending `from the circumference of'a circle which is Vspaced from thehub of the disk, to the peripheral edge of the disk. The said ribs, inthe operation of the modied form, function in the manner ofthe edges 19aformed by the overlapping portions of the tongues or flanges ofthescreen in the pre` thamoisture distributing elements vin combinationwith theass'oeiation ottwo opposed series, very' iinely dividedparticles of mois-A ture are projected, filling the cross sectional areaof the air treating chamber.V Attention is further called to theopposing currents of m'oisture particles .centrifugally distributed bythe two-series of elements which strike ed and its temperature ma'y bequickly reduced and the iinevaporat'ed particles re-v moved from the airby passage of the air through the eliminator unit 22. The air isofcourse drawn through the blower casing and discharged through the hoodwherein the radiator and deiiectors are mounted. It Will, of course, beseen that the air can be'tempered or chilled by Contact with thetradiator R.

It wilhcf course, be understood that various changes'may be made in theform, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which, generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth and in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed nand defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In air conditioning apparatus, a rotary moisturedistributing elementv comprising a substantially imperforate disk havingat least one face thereof partially covered with a netting adapted todivide and pick up small y and having lapping edges.

particles of liquid and means for driving said element forcentrifiigally distributing land subdividing said particles. i

2. In air conditioning apparatus, a rotary moisture distributing elementcomprising a disk having 'at least one face thereof provided witli--amultiplicity of closely spaced intersti'ces or cells wherein liquid isadapted to-lodge andA be divided, said face also having a series ofprojecting edges extending i from the central portion of the diskoutwardly to points adj acentthe periphery.

3. In air conditioning apparatus, a rotary moisture distributing elementcomprising a y substantially imperforate disk having at least one facethereof partially covered with flaps of` finely divided netting, saidflaps be'- ing substantially circumerentially arranged 4. In airconditioning apparatus, a chamber, means for setting up a circulation ofair through said chamber, a receptacle for containing liquid mounted insaid chamber, a rotary moisture distributing element 'mounted in saidchamber and-having a portion of vided nettingon atleast one facethereof,

,saidnetting in kcombination with said disk deninga multiplicity ofclosely spaced inter'stices or A'cells wherein liquid is adapted to `insaid chamber and having the lower portion'ofjitsperiphery immersed inthe liquid within said receptacle, said moisture distributing elementcomprising a substantially imperforate disk or plate and a covering offinely divided netting secured'to at least one face of said disk orplate, said netting comprising flaps which are circumferentiallyarranged and have lapping edges adapted to assist in the precipitationand picking up of moisturer1 and means for rotating said element atcomparatively high speed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLIFFORD E. SCOTT.

its lower periphery immersed in the liquid within said receptacle, saidmoisture distributing element comprising a substantially iinperforatedisk and a covering of finely d1-

